Department of Sociology & Criminology

Message from the Chair

Welcome to the website of the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Denver. We are an undergraduate department in the Division of Social Sciences offering BA degrees in sociology and criminology.

Our faculty are active, productive scholars with expertise in several areas of study, including crime, inequalities, law, and social movements, and are national and internationally known for their contributions to the discipline of sociology.

We are also committed teachers invested in helping our majors grow, develop, and research their academic potential. In all our classes, we help students develop a sociological imagination—an appreciation for the idea that individual action does not occur in a vacuum, but, rather, is shaped by powerful social and historical forces.

Outside the classroom, we offer many opportunities for students to use their sociological imagination by conducting their own research or working alongside faculty members. We also offer internship opportunities for course credit, which allows students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to a “course” in the community.

As a department, we value inclusive excellence, a commitment by all constituents at the University of Denver to create a transformative academic experience that embraces and engages diverse perspectives and communities. Faculty and students in our department actively contribute to these goals through scholarship, teaching, and service. For more information about inclusive excellence, please visit https://www.du.edu/ahss/sociology/inclusive_excellence.html.

I hope that you will explore our website to learn more about us, what we do, and what we have to offer. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions not found on this site.